Fergie reportedly gets royal buyout

The Duchess of York has hammered out a deal with Buckingham Palace that will give her a royal buyout of $5.5 mil over 25 years, says the author of a new book on Sarah.

Chris Hutchins, author of "Fergie Confidential: The Real Story," says the money amounts to hush money because "she knows enormous stories about the family that could be devastating" if revealed.

The time length is to ensure her silence over a long time and so she never gets to "feel rich."

Mr. Hutchins, who scooped the world on the duchess' 1990 association with Steve Wyatt, says Fergie wants to live in America and has folks already checking out post-royal real estate in Palm Beach, Fla.

He also says Queen Elizabeth became convinced Fergie was emotionally unstable after publication of those toe-sucking photos with "financial adviser" John Bryan. As for Prince Andrew, Hutchins says: "Koo Stark never really left the picture."